The baby slapped me, and I said, "Sit on my lap and slap me."

Several familiar teammates around laughed when they heard their senior's joke.

When his gaze fell upon Su Qingyao, it carried an unspoken teasing and an undisguised envy.

After all, who wouldn't be envious of a boyfriend who is perfect in terms of appearance, family background, and unique affection?

Su Qingyao turned her gaze away from the window and met everyone's smiles, her cheeks flushing slightly.

She didn't deny it, but smiled and pursed her lips.

She took out her phone, her gaze sweeping over the top of the screen.

11 month 3 day.

It's November...

Time flies. From early summer to late autumn, she and Wen Yu have been together for almost half a year.

The events of the past six months flashed through my mind, each frame as clear as yesterday.

and many more……

Su Qingyao's heart skipped a beat.

Wenyu's birthday is coming soon.

11 month 19 day.

There are less than two weeks left.

This was the first time she had celebrated his birthday since they got together.

My first birthday.

This realization stirred something within her.

What should I give him?

Su Qingyao frowned slightly, lost in thought, even the sorrow of parting was temporarily pushed aside.

First, a bunch of obvious options were eliminated.

Expensive luxury goods, limited edition watches, haute couture suits...

Given Wen Yu's background and personal taste, these things are just everyday occurrences for him, and he probably already owns the most top-of-the-line ones.

He probably wouldn't care about the value of these material things.

So what does he really like?

It seems, except for... her.

This realization instantly made Su Qingyao's cheeks flush, and even her ears felt hot.

His undisguised infatuation and possessiveness, those affectionate embraces, every moment spent quietly by her side, even his indulgence of her special nickname...

Each item reveals his preferences.

Perhaps... we could make something that carries their shared memories?

Sparks of inspiration began to flicker in my mind.

She opened her phone's notes app and created a new folder named "Yu Bao's Birthday Surprise".

The name made her smile involuntarily.

Then, she began to record the scattered thoughts that came to mind.

Fingers tap rapidly on the screen, typing keywords, then pausing occasionally, frowning in thought, decisively deleting unsatisfactory entries, and adding new inspiration.

The bus sped smoothly along the highway, with blurry scenery constantly rushing past the window.

The lights inside the carriage were soft, and the other team members either closed their eyes to rest or talked in hushed tones, gradually quieting down.

-

Su Qingyao arrived in Shanghai in the evening. After video chatting with Wen Yu to let him know she was safe, she got busy.

The following schedule was so tight that there was almost no time to breathe.

On the first day, top physics students from the nation's leading universities gathered and spent the entire day immersed in the high-pressure written exam, from dawn till dusk.

Complex theoretical derivations, challenging modeling problems, and open-ended questions that test the limits of thinking...

Su Qingyao focused all her attention until the bell rang, at which point her tense nerves relaxed slightly, followed by a strong sense of exhaustion.

When she walked out of the examination room, it was already completely dark. The organizers provided dinner, but Su Qingyao didn't have much of an appetite and only ate a little bit.

Then, together with Li Wei, a senior from the same team, we followed the crowd to the hotel arranged by the organizers.

In November, the damp, cold night wind in Shanghai penetrated through coats, bringing a chill.

Su Qingyao wrapped the thick cashmere scarf that Wen Yu had given her tightly around her neck; his cool, fresh scent still lingered on it.

Exhaustion and the unfamiliar environment caused the longing that had been deliberately suppressed in my heart to quietly resurface.

She took out her phone, which had been switched off for a day.

The screen lit up and was instantly flooded with a series of message notifications.

All from Wenyu.

Starting in the morning, his messages would arrive precisely at regular intervals.

Almost every moment she was out of his sight, he filled her with his care and concern.

Su Qingyao read through the list one by one, and couldn't help but smile with each one.

She leaned against a pillar in the hotel lobby, her fingertips tapping on the keyboard, replying to his concerns one by one.

I told him the room was warm, he was doing great in the exam, I received the things he had prepared, the dinner arranged by the organizers was alright, and he was wearing a thick coat...

While we were talking, I simply dialed his number directly.

The ringing lasted only two seconds before being quickly answered.

"Baby?"

His voice came through the receiver, carrying a familiar magnetism and a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"Have you finished the exam? Are you getting ready to go back to the hotel?"

The moment she heard his voice, the exhaustion and dependence that Su Qingyao had been holding back surged forth.

Her voice softened unconsciously, taking on a slightly aggrieved nasal tone.

"Yeah, just got back... I'm so tired, I had exams all day, my head is about to explode."

"I know, it's been tough on our baby."

Wen Yu's voice immediately softened, like a feather brushing against the heart.

"Why do you sound so weak? What did you have for dinner?"

Su Qingyao shook her head, then remembered that he couldn't see her, and spoke softly.

"I ate, it's nothing, it's just... I miss you so much."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by his deeper voice, filled with an intense, overwhelming longing.

"I miss you so much, baby. Without you at home, it's so quiet it's unsettling. It's only been one night, and the blanket you used to sleep under doesn't even smell anymore."

This straightforward and somewhat childish complaint made Su Qingyao's lips curl into a smile.

The two of them chatted on and on over the phone, saying nothing of any real meaning.

He asked her if the heating in the exam room was sufficient, how confident she was about the exam, and if she had seen any interesting street scenes in Shanghai.

She complained to him about how tricky the last big question was, grumbled about how the sweet and sour pork ribs in the cafeteria were cloyingly sweet, and said that the teacher in charge of the group was as serious as a moving iceberg...

Time slipped away quietly amidst gentle words and soft conversation, and the number of people coming and going from the hotel entrance gradually dwindled.

"Baby, it's getting late. You should go upstairs to take a shower and rest. There are even more demanding experiments to do tomorrow, so you need to conserve your energy."

"Um……"

Su Qingyao dragged out her words, her feet seemingly rooted to the spot, unwilling to move an inch.

She held her phone, her gaze unconsciously falling on the ceiling of the hotel lobby.

A mix of weariness, coldness, and intense longing gripped her, causing her to murmur softly, her voice as light as a sigh.

"If only... if only my precious Yu Yu were here with me."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line.

Then, Wen Yu's voice rang out again, clearer and closer than before.

With an indescribable tenderness and smile.

"Baby,"

He said.

"Look up and look ahead."